Ralph, the eldest among six siblings, his family was a former resident near the railways in San Andres, Manila. Since the father is the lone breadwinner, the mother decided to help augment family’s income through selling different household things like blanket, bed sheet, curtain, pillowcase and the like. After his secondary education, he wanted a Computer Science course in college but unfortunately his family can’t support him so he decided to work first to earn money before going to college. Ralph worked as bartender in Malate for almost 9 months.

Ralph admitted as KEOFI beneficiary in 2007, listed as one of the vocational technical students. He took up a two-year course in Electro Mechanics at Dual Tech. As student, he undergone, six months theory based teaching and one and a half-year combination of theory and on- the-job (OJT) training to partner-company of the school. Ralph recalled his difficulties during his training; it was indeed difficult, you were doing a full time job but earning only allowance-based compensation. It was difficult to be away from your family (his family is in Manila while he worked at Honda Cars, Laguna – a two to three hours travel from Manila) and at the same time, there was a feeling of discontentment. Ralph explained, the types of job given to us were not connected to our course at all. Despite these difficulties, Ralph Patino graduated in October 2009 with distinction.

Apart from financial assistance given by KEOFI, Ralph is very much thankful for the guidance given to him by the Foundation. Before KEOFI, I was always with my friends, doing nothing, no plans and no future at all. It was KEOFI who had given me a second chance in life, and with that, me and my family will always be grateful.Behind his words are the hopes of making his dreams come true, hoping that his life and his family would live a better life in the near future. He’s now a technician at the Service Department of Honda Cars, Caloocan. Ralph piece of advice to others, don’t stop pursuing your dreams, just go on, have patience and persevere. God is just there to assist those who help themselves.